Solo travel and group trips don’t seem like they’d overlap. After all, group trips and solo travel are inherently different.
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But if you’ve solo-traveled before, you’ve probably ended up in a group at least once—if not often. Solo travelers tend to come together to venture out on day trips, explore new sites, and travel from one destination to the next. Some meet in hostels, while others cross paths during meetups or via chance encounters.
For many solo travelers, group trips are a great way to break up the monotony of traveling solo. It’s also a great way to make lifelong friends—and future travel buddies.
If you want to skip ahead to the latter, making friends for life, you can also book group trips that you join as a solo traveler.
They offer the best of both worlds: a chance to experience a trip on your own while still having social interactions and group support. That can be an important factor for destinations that are a bit more adventurous, like safaris or hiking trips.
If that type of dual adventure appeals to you, consider booking a trip with a group tour company as a solo traveler. You’ll have the best of both worlds, whether you go with a well-known small group tour provider or a newcomer. Here are the top group tour companies that solo travelers can join.
At a glance: group tour companies for solo travelers
- For ages 25-39: FTLO
- For greener travelers: Intrepid Travel
- The surprise version: Pack Up + Go
- The luxury version: Firebird
- For adventurous travelers: Exodus Adventure Travels
Group tour companies for solo travelers
For flexible travelers: Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is one of the most well-known and popular group tour companies out there. (You’ve probably heard of it, alongside another heavy-hitter called G Adventures.) Intrepid Travel has tons of group tour options for you to choose from. There are around 900 trips that traverse 120 countries around the globe.
If you have a specific adventure in mind, start with Intrepid. The guides know what they’re doing, and the company is prepared to handle just about anything that comes up on a trip. That being said, there’s a catch: Intrepid trips aren’t cheap, but accommodations are usually mid-range. If you’re all about experiences in far-out places and the open road, that might not matter much to you.
For ages 25-39: FTLO
Here’s the thing about group trips: They’re usually a mix of ages… and personality types. If you prefer to spend time with travelers your own age (range), then go with FTLO. The idea is that you’ll be with travelers of the same generation and, probably, a similar mindset and outlook.
Their slogan is ‘travel solo, not alone’, which highlights their social and open-minded approach to travel. With FTLO, you have a strong chance of making those travel friendships that last a lifetime.
The surprise version: Pack Up + Go
Pack Up + Go is a unique small group tour company with two specialties. First, they plan group trips around special moments like anniversaries and birthdays. Second, they keep the destination a surprise. The latter is one of the coolest features I’ve seen from a travel company.
So, how does it work? You fill out a survey that lays out what types of destinations and adventures you enjoy, along with those you absolutely want to avoid. Then, you set your budget. From there, Pack Up + Go handles the rest—all you need to do is show up with your bags packed.
The private version: Firebird Tours
If you want more flexibility when it comes to planning your own group trips or private tours, Firebird Tours has four different offers. You can book a private tour, join a small group tour, create a custom group tour for organizations, or fully customize trips.
Firebird is a more upscale adventure. Some of its trips are also highly specialized and are used by universities and NGOs for educational purposes. So, if you want the upper echelon of group trips, go with Firebird Tours.
For adventurous travelers: Exodus Adventure Travels
My first group trips were adventure tours through the Himalayan foothills and the Mekong Delta. If you’ve dreamed of going on adventurous tours to remote areas but aren’t an adventurer during your day-to-day life, I highly recommend letting a qualified company like Exodus manage the details.
Their tours cost a pretty penny depending on the length and destination, but you can find options that suit your fitness level, from more mild hiking tours to full-on trekking adventures. Despite the emphasis on movement, Exodus also focuses on cultural experiences, giving you a balanced trip.
